Maken offers to help Yuvraj in fight against cancer

Sports Minister Ajay Maken has promised government help to cricketer Yuvraj Singh, who is undergoing chemotherapy in the United States to recover from lung cancer.

"Wish Yuvraj a speedy recovery! Asking officials to find the quantum and nature of help required. Government shld & will help him," Maken tweeted.

Yuvraj, who played a stellar role in India's ODI World Cup triumph, last year, has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy at the Cancer Research Institute in Boston.

The 30-year-old left-hander has been in US since last month being treated for what was earlier claimed to be a tumour in the lungs by his family.

His physiotherapist Dr Jatin Chaudhary has, however, assured that the ailment is curable and the batsman would be fit to resume cricket in May.

"It is a rare tumour and is cancerous but it has been detected in stage one itself. Doctors had to decide whether to continue medication or go for chemotherapy but since parts of the tumour are just above the artery of his heart, there was a danger that while running it could burst. But it is 100 percent curable," Chaudhary said.

"The doctors decided that he would have to undergo chemotherapy and he travelled to the US on January 26. At the end of March, he will undergo a CT scan and should recover by then. After that it is just some rehabilitation in April before he is fit to be back on the field in May," Chaudhary added.

"Thankfully no surgery is required, he is already a lot better than what he was and can't wait to be back on the cricket field."

Yuvraj, who was Player of the Tournament in the World Cup last year with 362 runs, 15 wickets and four Man-of-the-Match awards, has also been taking ayurvedic medicines to battle the disease.

Yuvraj has played 37 Tests, scoring 1775 runs at an average of 34.80.

He has 8051 runs at an average of 37.62 from his 274-match ODI career. In 23 Twenty20s, Yuvraj has scored 567 runs at 31.50.

"Once he is done with chemo in March, his rehabilitation will be complete by April end and will be perfectly fit to play in May," Chaudhary has said.